Beneath the Mask

Chapter 7: Beneath the Mask

The Blackwood charity gala was a definition of perfection, elegance and class at its peak. It was held in the grand ballroom of the Blackwood estate, its vaulted ceilings were decorated with glittering chandeliers and gold embellishments. The soft sound of classical music played by a live orchestra filled the room as guests dressed in their finest fabrics danced, sipping champagne and exchanging pleasantries. Beneath the façade of glamour, hidden agendas and underground deals were going on.

Standing at the center of it all was Alex Montgomery, his imposing figure once again cutting through the crowd. His tailored black tuxedo and polished shoes were understated compared to the level of aura of dominance he exudes. Alex wasn’t just a family ally he was the wolf that prowled the Blackwood estate, his sharp gaze ever watchful. There was nothing about the night he hadn’t anticipated, no angle he hadn’t calculated. To him, every conversation was a potential transaction, and every face, a pawn.

“Mr. Montgomery,” a nervous guest began, extending a hand that trembled slightly. Alex barely acknowledged it, his stern brown eyes locking onto the man’s.

“Why don’t we skip the pleasantries, Mr. Hargrove?” Alex said, his voice was smooth, yet cold, his smile a sharp curve. “I know you’ve been hesitating to finalize the Westland deal. Tell me, do you need a firmer incentive?”

Hargrove’s face turned pale, his forced grin faltering under Alex’s intense gaze. “I…. of course, we’re proceeding as planned. There’s no issue”

Alex stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Good. Because you wouldn’t want to know what happens when I am disappointed.”

Hargrove nodded nervously, his face flushed as Alex turned away, his focus now shifting to the Backwoods’ esteemed guests.

In a corner of the ballroom, Rico stood with Lydia and Myra. His sisters adorned with their most dazzling gowns, but their differences in personality were as stark as their choice in outfits. Myra, the rebellious little sister, had chosen a bold crimson dress, her confidence radiating as she effortlessly charmed those around her. Lydia, in an elegant navy gown, was poised and watchful, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of the room.

“You’re staring again, Lydia,” Myra teased, taking a sip of champagne.

“I am observing,” Lydia corrected, her gaze now at Alex, who was speaking with a group of influential investors. “He’s dangerous, you know.”

“Dangerous yes, but undeniably fascinating,” Myra quipped. “What do you think, Rico?”

Rico’s expression was distant, his mind elsewhere. Lydia placed a hand on his arm, her voice soft. “You’re distracted, again. What is wrong?”

“Nothing,” Rico replied, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Just another long day.”

“You’re a terrible liar,” Lydia said flatly, though she didn’t press further.

Elsewhere in the mansion, Catherine adjusted her emerald-green gown in an adorned mirror with gold leaf frame. Her reflection stared back at her, but she barely recognized the woman she had become. Her lover’s latest letter had been burned into her mind, each word a temptation and a warning.

“Elisa,” she called softly, and her cousin appeared from the adjoining room.

The two women were almost indistinguishable. Elisa’s gown mirrored Catherine’s, and her hair was styled to perfection.

“Are you sure about this?” Elisa asked, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Catherine placed a hand on Elisa’s shoulder. “I need you to be me tonight. Just for a few hours. Smile, mingle, and charm everyone as you always do. I need to be somewhere else.”

Elisa frowned. “And if someone realizes?”

“They won’t,” Catherine said firmly. “No one pays enough attention to see the difference. Just keep them distracted.”

Reluctantly, Elisa nodded. As Catherine slipped out of the room and into the night, Elisa took her place among the guests, her nervousness masked by a practiced smile.

Outside the Blackwood estate, Melissa leaned against her car, taking in the surrounding of the mansion from a distance. She had spent the past few days piecing together the threads of the Blackwood Empire, Alex Montgomery included. The deeper she dug, the more disturbing the picture became.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. An anonymous message:

“You’re stepping into dangerous waters, Ms. Reynolds. Turn back before it’s too late.”

Melissa smirked, though her heart raced. She had received threats before; it was part of the job. But something about this one felt personal, as though the sender was closer than she realized.

Inside her car, a series of photos were spread across the passenger seat: Alex Montgomery at a private meeting, Catherine with a man whose face was obscured, Rico looking lost in thought at a café.

“This is bigger than I thought,” Melissa murmured to herself. She grabbed her camera and notebook, ready to infiltrate the gala under the guise of a reporter covering the event. She wasn’t on the guest list, but she had a way of getting past security when needed.

As the night wore on, Alex noticed Elisa who he believed was Catherine lingering near the edge of the ballroom. He approached her, his steps calculated, his presence overwhelming.

“Catherine,” he greeted smoothly, though his sharp eyes scrutinized her every move. “You seem distracted tonight.”

Elisa forced a laugh, her voice trembling slightly. “Just tired, that’s all.”

Alex tilted his head, studying her. “Funny, I’ve never known you to be so nervous. Are you hiding something?”

Before Elisa could respond, a commotion erupted near the entrance. Melissa had slipped past the guards, her press credentials flashing as she moved swiftly into the room. She kept her head low, her camera clicking as she captured the scene.

Alex’s expression darkened. “Excuse me,” he said to Elisa, striding toward the disturbance.

Melissa felt his presence before she saw him, a cold shiver running down her spine. She turned, her eyes meeting his, and for a moment, the room seemed to freeze.

“Ms. Reynolds,” Alex said his voice like ice. “I don’t recall inviting you.”

Melissa’s heart raced, but she stood her ground, “A public event like this? Surely you can’t expect to keep the press out.”

Alex’s smiled but the smile was far from genuine, it didn’t get to his eyes. “You should leave, now.”

“Why? I’m just doing my job,” Melissa replied, though she knew she was on thin ice.

Alex stepped closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “You’ve been digging where you shouldn’t. Take this as a warning, Ms. Reynolds. Stay dead, or I’ll make sure you wish you were.”

As Alex turned back to the ballroom, Melissa’s mind raced. His words weren’t just a threat they were a declaration of war.

At the same time, Catherine met with her lover in a secluded location far from the estate. Their plan was risky, but it was the only way they could continue without suspicion.

“We need to be more careful,” Catherine said her voice urgent. “Alex is starting to notice things.”

“Let him,” her lover replied, his tone defiant. “I won’t let anyone come between us.”

Back at the gala, Rico found himself cornered by Lydia. “You’re hiding something,” she said quietly, her eyes searching his. “What’s going on, Rico?”

Before he could answer, a scream cut through the air, drawing everyone’s attention. Melissa had collapsed near the entrance, clutching her side as a shadowy figure slipped away into the night.

The room erupted into chaos, but Alex’s expression remained calm and calculated. “Seal the exits,” he ordered the guards, his voice commanding. “No one leaves until we find out who is responsible.”

The night had taken a dark turn, and the secrets everyone worked so hard to hide were beginning to unravel.

As Rico pushed through the crowd to get a better look, his heart sank. Melissa lay unconscious, her camera shattered beside her. Alex knelt beside her, his expression unreadable.

“She’s not just a reporter,” Alex murmured, his gaze cutting through Rico like a blade. “She’s a problem. And problems don’t last long around here.”

“Was this you?” Rico asked

A smile appeared on Alex face, “I would have done a better job” as Rico gaze intently at Alex, they heard a loud explosion outside.